When investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the question often arises, “What do I do when the Sacrament comes around? Am I allowed or even supposed to take it?”

The LDS sacrament is known to other Christians as the Eucharist, Communion, or generally, the Lord’s Supper. Two priesthood holders, usually young men, bless first the broken bread and then the water, which have been placed in trays. After the respective prayers, these trays are passed to the seated congregation.

When it comes to you, you can either take one and pass it, or just pass it. Either way, no one will fuss.

In my personal opinion, there is no harm in taking the Sacrament without being a member. No one is going to look at you like you’ve blasphemed their faith by partaking. I, along with many other members, allow my children to take the Sacrament and they haven’t been baptized as members yet.

However, it is important to understand why we take the Sacrament: 1) It reminds us of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and His great sacrifice on our behalf. 2) It serves as a renewal of the covenants we made at our baptism.

Regarding the first, I feel that most visitors would have no problem viewing the bread and water as symbolic of the body and blood of our Redeemer. The second reason just doesn’t apply though. Without having been baptized, you can’t renew those covenants.

Essentially, it’s up to you. You’re certainly under no obligation to take the Sacrament. If you feel more comfortable passing the tray along, that’s perfectly acceptable. If you’d like to take it, you’re welcome to do so, though it will mean far more to you after baptism. This weekly ordinance allows baptized and confirmed saints to maintain the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, the greatest gift we can have in life.

4 Responses to “Taking the Sacrament”

Regarding this quote… “I, along with many other members, allow my children to take the Sacrament and they haven’t been baptized as members yet.”

Naturally — your kids are children of record and are considered members of the church by default. Besides, children under the age of eight are unaccountable and, as such, are automatically members of God’s Kingdom. It’s only after the age of eight that kids need baptism for remission of sins and membership in the church.

Alexander, why is it wrong for a child to not partake of the sacrament? Megan’s reasoning makes sense. If the child is unaccountable and the purpose of the sacrament is to renew or to ‘make clean again’ then it would be unnecessary for a child to partake.

Just wondering. I’m not a believer so you may convince me to your argument…

Unnecessary? Perhaps. Unaccountable children will go to heaven even if they never take the sacrament, never set foot in a church, and never hear the name of Jesus.

Does that mean that we forbid them from taking the sacrament, attending church, or learning about Jesus? Of course not.

Moreover, the renewal of covenants is not the only purpose of the sacrament. We take the sacrament to remember Jesus and His sacrifice, and that is certainly something young children should be learning to do.

“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14

The sacrament is for MEMBERS of the Church who have made covenants, period. Children under 8 taking it do not, in a sense, count in this way since they have no accountability for sin and are required to make ANY covenants yet.
From the Church’s website:https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/sacrament?lang=eng

“For Latter-day Saints, sacrament refers to the ordinance of partaking of bread and water in remembrance of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. The broken bread represents his broken flesh; the water represents the blood that he shed to atone for our sins (1 Cor. 11:23–25; D&C 27:2). When worthy Church members take the sacrament, they promise to take upon them the name of Christ, to always remember him, and to keep his commandments. Through this ordinance, Church members renew their baptismal covenants.”

It is evident from this explanation, the Sacrament is for Church members. The purpose is to renew a covenant; if you haven’t made that covenant then you have no right to take part in the ceremony (taking the bread and water).
It’s simple, and as a covert at age 23 (20 yrs ago) I did not take the sacrament until I was baptized; this gave it more meaning to me and I respected the ceremony in that way.

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